Formula 1 News: Valtteri Bottas opens up about his time at Mercedes: The Finn driver, Valtteri Bottas opens up about his time at Mercedes when he was teammates with Lewis Hamilton. Valtteri surely didn’t have a good time there as he was considered to be their second fiddle driver, Follow InsideSport.IN for more Formula 1 News and Updates.
Valtteri could have fought for the title while being in the same car as Lewis Hamilton. But, he played an integral role in Mercedes winning the title in each of his seasons with the Silver Arrows team. But, he only got one-year contracts which meant his future was still not secured at the end of each season.
Formula 1 News: Valtteri Bottas recalls DIFFICULT days at Mercedes, says ‘Felt like there was a knife at my throat’
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One of the main discussions in Formula 1 in the first half of the season was whether Valtteri or George would drive for Mercedes in 2022. It was the Brit, George Russell who was confirmed ahead of Bottas to partner Hamilton. The Finn driver had admitted before also that the pressure surrounding earning new deals had left him feeling ‘eaten from inside’.
Formula 1 News: Valtteri Bottas recalls DIFFICULT days at Mercedes, says ‘Felt like there was a knife at my throat’
With these kinds of factors, Valtteri described the process as ‘very exhausting’. Valtteri added, “When you feel that you have a knife at your throat, your head doesn’t do very well.”
Lewis Hamilton described Valtteri Bottas as the best teammate he’s ever had during his time in Formula 1. The two shared a good relationship at work. It was Bottas who joined Mercedes after Nico Rosberg retired from motorsport.
Bottas added, “I remember Lewis and Nico arguing very hard with each other and it even got a bit political in the end.”
Formula 1 News: Valtteri Bottas recalls DIFFICULT days at Mercedes, says ‘Felt like there was a knife at my throat’
At first, Bottas found Rosberg’s decision to leave the sport bizarre when he beat Hamilton to the title in 2016. “But now I can identify with him. I can say from my experience that it is not at all easy.”
When it comes to unwinding everyone knows Bottas’ enjoyment of the sauna. It was the only place where he turned when things got a bit much for him. He always looked to come back stronger from every setback.
Formula 1 News: Valtteri Bottas recalls DIFFICULT days at Mercedes, says ‘Felt like there was a knife at my throat’
Valtteri Bottas asserted, “The sauna is a sacred place for me. Weird things happen and yes, sometimes alcohol is also used. Not so much to get rid of the pressure, but to clear the head and relax for the next race weekend. Sometimes it used to work and sometimes it didn’t.”
Driving into to the weekend in style 🍀#VB77 #AlfaRomeo @alfa_romeo @alfaromeoorlen @AlfaMuseums pic.twitter.com/pgQg57GEJR
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) February 4, 2022
Valtteri Bottas is now starting a new chapter in his life with Alfa Romeo. He has now signed his first multi-year contract of his career and even secured job security. They’re unlikely to fight at the front in the near future, but he feels some of the pressure from Mercedes is now off his shoulders. “I can say that I have been smiling and laughing a lot since I have signed with Alfa Romeo.”
Formula 1 News: Valtteri Bottas recalls DIFFICULT days at Mercedes, says ‘Felt like there was a knife at my throat’
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